China’s leaky automobile website, Autohome has leaked again; this time with the pictures of eighth-gen Rolls-Royce Phantom revealing front, side and dashboard layout, ahead of its official unveiling on July 27, 2017. Sales of the car are expected to commence in Q1 2018.
From leaked images, we can confirm that aesthetically it remains largely similar to the current-generation Phantom with minor tweaks to the front-end inclusive of redesigned headlamps and altered bumper design. The styling changes appear to evolutionary rather than revolutionary, with defining Phantom cues still very much present.
The instantly noticeable change when viewed head-on is the absence of lower lights that gave the old car its unique appeal. The trademark grille continues to be a feature, as is the retractable Spirit of Ecstasy bonnet ornament above it. Moving to the side, the new car appears to retain largely the Phantom’s familiar profile. New rim-design option is added to the range of 21-inch wheels, the largest fitted as standard to any production car.
Peer inside, and there you’ll see dashboard still without much technology, no large touch screens or fancy touch pads, the instrument cluster looks-like an analogue one. There is a screen hidden under the panel between the instrument binnacle and the clock, thus, the circular air-conditioning vents have been relocated to the middle tier of the dashboard (inline with the steering column). Controls for the air-conditioning too look strangely large and overly complex.
As for technical specifications, the 2018 Phantom is based on the same CLAR platform as the latest G11/12 BMW 7-Series, thus, the switch to an aluminium-intensive platform should make the Rolls-Royce’s new flagship lighter when weighed on the scales. Also its likely to share aluminium architecture with its upcoming Cullinan-codenamed SUV sibling.
It will be powered by a new 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine, which reports say, is an advanced version of the engine serving the Ghost, Wraith and Dawn. The eighth-generation model on the images here is the top-spec Phantom Extended Wheelbase (EWB). The EWB version will be over 6-meters long.
Rolls-Royce is probably going “traditional” or such there, but to me it looks hopelessly outdated.
To read more on Rolls-Royce SUV, Click here
Also see: Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV set for global debut in 2018
Image Courtesy: autohome.com.cn
